Staff at St. James's Hospital have voiced concern over plans to cut hundreds of car parking spaces to make way for the new National Children's Hospital.

Almost 250 staff parking spots are to be axed as part of the redesign of the James's campus.

Members of the Impact union have already voted for industrial action over a proposal to charge €500 a year for staff parking spaces.

The industrial action has not yet taken place because the hospital hasn't gone ahead with the charge, but this is more likely now that planning permission has been granted by An Bord Pleanala.

Work is due to start on the site next month.

A spokesperson for the union told The Irish Times: "Given the likelihood of an accelerated process to begin construction, we'd expect to be in discussions with management on this in the very near future."

Staff parking is being reduced to help ease traffic congestion at the hospital, after reports that over half of James's staff drive to work.

Just 2% take the Luas, despite the fact that the system runs through the hospital campus.